Online Reporter
MARK HALSEY has called for the PGMOL to take a ‘no-nonsense’ approach to incidents from corners – and likened the current game to rugby.
Teams are adopting an aggressive approach from corners this season, which often involves crowding the six-yard box and swarming the keeper with several bodies.
No team demonstrated it more than Everton in their 1-0 defeat against Manchester United at Goodison Park last Monday.
After the match, while doing punditry for Sky Sports, former United keeper and four-time Premier League winner Edwin van der Sar addressed Lammens, describing the situation perfectly.
Van der Sar said: “Congratulations on the win, extremely important of course, and I think your role from the corners, they were horrible.
Halsey gave his verdict.
“The PGMOL have got to lead their referees into a no-nonsense approach to these grappling incidents in the penalty area from corners because it has become an absolute joke.
“It needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later.
“Referees do not want to keep making decisions when they are all jostling. It has become like rugby. It is like being at Twickenham.
“If it means giving loads of free-kicks and penalties, then so be it. That is the only way to stop it.” – SunSport
Mathew Masinge